ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia’s shrimp exports to the United States have rebounded strongly, recording a 16.3 percent year-on-year increase between January and September 2025.
The recovery follows the official designation of the Quality Control Agency of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) as a Certifying Entity (CE) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for issuing Cesium-137 (Cs-137)-free certification on Indonesian shrimp products.
This designation makes Indonesia the first country in the world authorized to issue radiation-free certification in the fisheries sector — a global precedent that elevates Indonesia from a “crisis reaction” position to a standard-setting nation in food safety and export governance.
Effective October 31, 2025, the Cs-137-free certification scheme has been fully operational. In collaboration with BAPETEN (the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency) and Customs, KKP released the first batch of certified shrimp exports to the U.S., totaling 7 containers (106 tons) worth USD 1.22 million (approximately IDR 20.14 billion).
All containers met the Yellow List requirements and were verified free from Cs-137 contamination through the Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM) screening process.
“Indonesian shrimp continues to meet U.S. market demand. It has a distinctive taste profile, and we are committed to maintaining strict quality control. Our target for November is to export more than 200 certified containers,” said KKP Quality Control Agency Head Ishartini during a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday, November 6, 2025.
Meanwhile, Doni Ismanto Darwin, Special Staff to the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries for Public Communication, emphasized the government’s swift and coordinated response to the Cesium-137 issue.
KKP, together with multiple ministries and agencies, immediately conducted field audits, data verification, and laboratory strengthening, as well as improvements to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“This case proves the government’s decisive presence. Within just two to three months, Indonesia successfully regained access to the U.S. market with a certification mechanism recognized by the FDA. This isn’t just export recovery — it’s evidence that our quality infrastructure is transparent, responsive, and globally trusted,” Doni said.
Strong Export Performance to the U.S.
Shrimp remains Indonesia’s top fishery export commodity, generating USD 1.39 billion in export value between January and September 2025. It is followed by tuna–skipjack–bonito (USD 763.5 million), squid–cuttlefish–octopus (USD 574.7 million), crab (USD 377.6 million), and seaweed (USD 233.8 million).
The United States remains the largest export destination, absorbing 63.1 percent of Indonesia’s total shrimp exports.
In September 2025 alone, exports rose 16.6 percent compared to August, reflecting a rapid market rebound following the Cs-137 case.
“The steady growth in shrimp exports through the third quarter shows how quickly Indonesia recovered its market position,” said Catur Sarwanto, Director of Business Empowerment at PDSPKP.
Strengthening from Farm to Export
At the production level, KKP continues to ensure quality assurance through the implementation of Good Aquaculture Practices (CBIB).
“We are intensifying on-site supervision among shrimp farmers to guarantee product quality, food safety, and environmental sustainability. Indonesian shrimp must consistently meet the world’s highest quality standards,” said Fernando Jongguran Simanjuntak, Director of Brackishwater Fish at KKP.
Earlier, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono clarified that the Cs-137 finding in July 2025 was a localized, site-specific contamination detected at PT BMS Cikande–Serang, and not from shrimp farms, hatcheries, or aquaculture systems. The detected level (±68 Bq/kg) was far below the FDA’s Derived Intervention Level of 1,200 Bq/kg.
Minister Trenggono stated that Indonesia chose a leadership approach based on science and transparency rather than argumentation, implementing a “zero compromise” policy grounded in verifiable data and official control systems. (AT Network)
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